Aa
Autoimmune Disease?
Hello everyone,
I am a 25 year old female currently in the waiting period of a diagnosis. I went to my GP about a month ago with some strange neurological symptoms ( migraine-like headache lasting 3 or 4 days, numbness and nerve pain on left side of body, fingers twitching) I am also always tired, get sores in my mouth off and on, don't have much of an appetite, and have noticed my hair start to fall out.She ordered some blood tests which revealed I am Vitamin D deficient, Anemic, have a low wbc and a positive ana 1:640 with a nucleolar pattern. A week later she retested my ana and did an ena panel. My ana came back exactly the same and I also had a high positive of the Anti-Ro/ SS-A antibody.
From what I understand, getting a diagnosis in the autoimmune area can be a very long frustrating process and nothing is very clear cut but I'm feeling so discouraged! My GP said she didn't know what those results meant. I'm seeing a neurologist in 2 weeks and a rheumatologist in a month but I'm hoping in the meantime someone can ease my mind a little.
Is it possible to have such a high ana and also have the ss-a antibody but have something other than Lupus/Sjogrens/RA? Do those results mean I definitely have a connective tissue disease?
Sorry for such a long post but any help would be appreciated! Thank you.
I am a 25 year old female currently in the waiting period of a diagnosis. I went to my GP about a month ago with some strange neurological symptoms ( migraine-like headache lasting 3 or 4 days, numbness and nerve pain on left side of body, fingers twitching) I am also always tired, get sores in my mouth off and on, don't have much of an appetite, and have noticed my hair start to fall out.She ordered some blood tests which revealed I am Vitamin D deficient, Anemic, have a low wbc and a positive ana 1:640 with a nucleolar pattern. A week later she retested my ana and did an ena panel. My ana came back exactly the same and I also had a high positive of the Anti-Ro/ SS-A antibody.
From what I understand, getting a diagnosis in the autoimmune area can be a very long frustrating process and nothing is very clear cut but I'm feeling so discouraged! My GP said she didn't know what those results meant. I'm seeing a neurologist in 2 weeks and a rheumatologist in a month but I'm hoping in the meantime someone can ease my mind a little.
Is it possible to have such a high ana and also have the ss-a antibody but have something other than Lupus/Sjogrens/RA? Do those results mean I definitely have a connective tissue disease?
Sorry for such a long post but any help would be appreciated! Thank you.
Thank you very much for your response. Interesting that you have similar lab results to me. I've been wondering about Sjogren's but I don't have the dry eyes and mouth. Both my Neurologist and Rheumatologist appointments are approaching quickly so hopefully I'll know what's going on soon!
My above response posted accidentally before I was finished.
Your symptoms of fatigue and hair loss as well as the other symptoms could be from an Autoimmune Disorder. Anemia could also cause fatigue.
Your symptoms of fatigue and hair loss as well as the other symptoms could be from an Autoimmune Disorder. Anemia could also cause fatigue.
It often does take a long time to get a diagnosis of an Autoimmune Disorder. However, you do have some positive tests and that will help with the diagnosis. In addition, both the Neurologist and the Rheumatologist will order additional tests and do thorough exams and will be able to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together.
I cannot tell you for sure if you have an Autoimmune Disorder, but your symptoms and lab work certainly point in that direction.
Positive ANA: ANAs are the signature autoantibodies of the rheumatic disease . The presence of high concentrations of antibody (titer >1:640) should make one suspicious that an autoimmune disorder is present.
Positive Sjorgens SSA: Anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB have been detected in high frequency in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and in SLE, but also in patients with photosensitive dermatitis. Either one or both of the anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB may be positive. They do not necessarily both have to be positive.
Low Vitamin D: Low Vit D levels are common in some Autoimmune Disorders
Your symptoms are symptoms that are common with many Autoimmune Disorders. Autoimmune Disorders can affect many organ systems and many parts of the body so symptoms will correspond with the body parts that are affected. Fatigue and weakness are hallmark symptoms of Autoimmune Disorders and joint aches and pains are hallmarks of many of them too. The inflammation that accompanies Autoimmune Disorders causes many varied symptoms as well. Several of the Autoimmune Disorders can affect the lungs making people more susceptible to lung problems and infections.
Your Rheumatologist may order more testing to try to discern which Autoimmune Disorder you have.
Many people have more than one Autoimmune Disorder so it will take a good Rheumatologist to sort out the test results and the symptoms and decide what your diagnosis is.
A good Rheumatologist will start you on medications to slow the progression of the disease and to treat the symptoms.
I already had a positive ANA when I went to see my Rheumatologist. She ran a truckload of tests based on my positive ANA, my history, and my symptoms. As soon as my Vit D level came back low and my SS-A came back positive, she called me back into the office immediately and started me on Vit. D 50,000 per week and Hydroxychloroquin 200 mg twice a day. Her diagnosis was Sjogren's Syndrome. She then ordered a minor salivary gland biopsy and confirmed the diagnosis of Sjogren's Syndrome. I have been on the medications since Sept. 2013 and have noticed an improvement in symptoms.
http://www.the-rheumatologist.org/details/article/873239/Know_Your_Labs.html
Best of luck.
I cannot tell you for sure if you have an Autoimmune Disorder, but your symptoms and lab work certainly point in that direction.
Positive ANA: ANAs are the signature autoantibodies of the rheumatic disease . The presence of high concentrations of antibody (titer >1:640) should make one suspicious that an autoimmune disorder is present.
Positive Sjorgens SSA: Anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB have been detected in high frequency in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and in SLE, but also in patients with photosensitive dermatitis. Either one or both of the anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB may be positive. They do not necessarily both have to be positive.
Low Vitamin D: Low Vit D levels are common in some Autoimmune Disorders
Your symptoms are symptoms that are common with many Autoimmune Disorders. Autoimmune Disorders can affect many organ systems and many parts of the body so symptoms will correspond with the body parts that are affected. Fatigue and weakness are hallmark symptoms of Autoimmune Disorders and joint aches and pains are hallmarks of many of them too. The inflammation that accompanies Autoimmune Disorders causes many varied symptoms as well. Several of the Autoimmune Disorders can affect the lungs making people more susceptible to lung problems and infections.
Your Rheumatologist may order more testing to try to discern which Autoimmune Disorder you have.
Many people have more than one Autoimmune Disorder so it will take a good Rheumatologist to sort out the test results and the symptoms and decide what your diagnosis is.
A good Rheumatologist will start you on medications to slow the progression of the disease and to treat the symptoms.
I already had a positive ANA when I went to see my Rheumatologist. She ran a truckload of tests based on my positive ANA, my history, and my symptoms. As soon as my Vit D level came back low and my SS-A came back positive, she called me back into the office immediately and started me on Vit. D 50,000 per week and Hydroxychloroquin 200 mg twice a day. Her diagnosis was Sjogren's Syndrome. She then ordered a minor salivary gland biopsy and confirmed the diagnosis of Sjogren's Syndrome. I have been on the medications since Sept. 2013 and have noticed an improvement in symptoms.
http://www.the-rheumatologist.org/details/article/873239/Know_Your_Labs.html
Best of luck.
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